Green River Lake near Columbia, Kentucky offers multiple campgrounds with varying facilities and amenities. The lake spans 8,210 acres with 300 miles of shoreline and reaches depths up to 76 feet. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October with summer water temperatures reaching the mid-80s. Elevation around the lake ranges from 675 to 713 feet above sea level.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Green River Lake provides quality fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. At Smith Ridge Green River Lake, a reviewer noted, "I gave Smith Ridge 5 stars because it offers a lot of great fishing spots and beautiful views. There isn't but maybe one trail there, and it's unmarked."
Water activities: Swimming areas are available at most lakeside campgrounds. One camper at Wilson Creek Recreation Area commented, "Primitive campground that sits in the middle of the old ORV area. The old 4 wheeler trails now make good hiking trails and cool off at the gravel beach at the end of the road."
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds offer hiking options of varying difficulty. A visitor at Holmes Bend shared, "The best are the hiking trails. It's a short drive or walk thru the woods to trail head. Fishers bend has over 5 miles of trails."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds feature well-sized sites with adequate spacing. A camper at Smith Ridge noted, "I am currently here and I gotta say I am impressed. The bathrooms are clean, I am not close to my neighboring campers, the parking spots are huge, and it's a great area to walk around."
Wildlife viewing: The area offers opportunities to see native Kentucky wildlife. A reviewer at Wax - Nolin River Lake shared, "We value nature and privacy and we loved this campground! We were looking for a campground with electric hookups for our teardrop near Mammoth Cave due to forecasted 97 degree temps. Right from our camps we could see a trip of Redheaded Woodpeckers playing as well as a mama Northern Flicker feeding her babies."
Lake views: Many sites offer direct views of the water. A camper at Dog Creek Campground stated, "Seems all sites have a lake view. Less than half full sun-Tuesday. Stayed at a006. Very close to beach, but that means you hear everything at the beach."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most rv parks near Columbia, Kentucky operate during specific months. According to a visitor at Pikes Ridge - Green River Lake, "The best campground on GRL!!! Only flaw.... no showers!"
Cell service limitations: Service varies significantly between locations. A reviewer at Dog Creek noted, "Limited cell service. No wifi."
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significant differences between sites. A camper at Wilson Creek advised, "I have camped several times here over the years was there last week for 5 days there are 5 camps sites out house type toilets and trash cans all get cleaned daily when it gets hot u may wanna bring airfreshner to the toilets."
Bathroom facilities: Quality and maintenance of facilities varies between campgrounds. At Smith Ridge, a camper reported, "If you need to use the showers or bathroom, they never fix anything. One bathroom hasn't had electric in two years and another women's bathroom only has hot water in one shower and the hand dryers don't work."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. A visitor at Holmes Bend shared, "Easy to get to with loads of appeal. Most sites are spaced apart but close enough to make new friend like we did. Playgrounds are cleaned everyday."
Beach areas: Many campgrounds include swimming beaches suitable for children. A camper at Wilson Creek noted, "Wilson Creek is a hidden gem. We've camped here multiple times. There are only about 6 or 7 campsites for primitive camping, so it's very quiet. You're also only a short walk from the beach which is nice."
Fishing for kids: Some campgrounds are particularly well-suited for young anglers. A visitor at CampFire Ridge RV Park mentioned, "Family oriented, pet friendly, peaceful with playground for the kids and lots of nature to explore."
Tips from RVers
Electric reliability: Some campgrounds experience power issues. At Smith Ridge, a camper reported, "Location was excellent, close to the water. They have a known power issue, 30amp service went out several times at the pole. Their solution was to use less appliances."
Site leveling challenges: Many rv parks in Columbia, Kentucky require equipment for leveling. A reviewer at Dog Creek noted, "Gravel pads are typically fairly level; water and electric at all but tent sites."
Big rig considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. At Wax - Nolin River Lake, a visitor cautioned, "The road in/out is very narrow, very tight and not easily navigated with a 40' 5th wheel. Also, be very careful about sites, many are extremely undeveloped and while we booked a 70' pull thru, it was actually down on the side of the hill with an almost 90° curve."
Supply access: Plan ahead for provisions. A Holmes Bend camper noted, "Columbia city 20-30 minutes from campground walmart super-center, restaurants, Mexican and fast food, hardware, ATM'S, Rv repairs, automotive part stores."
